Scientists have developed a revolutionary method for detecting brain cancer that is both faster and less invasive than traditional surgical biopsies. This novel “liquid biopsy” requires only a tiny blood sample 100 microliters and can identify biomarkers associated with glioblastoma, the most common and deadliest form of brain tumor, in just one hour. The test is more accurate than any existing techniques for glioblastoma detection, representing a significant advancement in the early diagnosis of brain cancer.
The innovative approach was developed through a collaboration between researchers from the University of Notre Dame in the United States and Australian scientists. While still in the proof-of-concept stage, this method could transform how brain cancer is diagnosed, offering a much quicker and less invasive alternative to current procedures.
According to a release by the University of Notre Dame, the average survival time for glioblastoma patients is just 12-18 months after diagnosis, making early and accurate detection crucial. The core of this new diagnostic method is a biochip that utilizes electrokinetic technology to detect biomarkers, specifically active Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors (EGFRs). These receptors are often overexpressed in cancers like glioblastoma and can be found in extracellular vesicles—small particles secreted by cells.
“Extracellular vesicles, or exosomes, are unique nanoparticles secreted by cells. They are large 10 to 50 times bigger than a molecule and they have a weak charge. Our technology was specifically designed for these nanoparticles, using their features to our advantage,” explained Hsueh-Chia Chang, the Bayer Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Notre Dame and lead author of the study published in Communications Biology.
The challenge for the researchers was two-fold: first, to develop a process that could accurately distinguish between active and non-active EGFRs, and second, to create a diagnostic technology that was both sensitive and selective in detecting active EGFRs on extracellular vesicles from blood samples. This new liquid biopsy meets these challenges, offering near turn-key functionality, which could dramatically improve outcomes for brain cancer patients by enabling quicker, more accurate diagnoses.
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